Russia to expect high-speed rail by 2014

Rome: High-speed rail links are planned to be built between Russia's major cities and to Finland in 2012-2014.

High speed rail links between Moscow and St. Petersburg, St Petersburg and Helsinki, Moscow and Kazan, Moscow and Samara, and Moscow and Adler are currently on the company's agenda head of Russian Railways (RZD), Vladimir Yakkunin said on Friday.

"The first high-speed trains will run between Moscow and St Petersburg, with a maximum speed of over 300 km/h (186 mph)," he said.

The high-speed rail link from Moscow to the Black Sea resort town of Adler will be launched as part of preparations for nearby Sochi's bid to host the 2014 Winter Olympic Games.

Russia has also signed a MoU with Italian rail operator FS, and its second largest industrial group, Finmeccanica.